communication platform Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Slack Rolls Out ‘Mark as Read’ Option in Notifications for Android App

Slack is introducing a "Mark as Read" option in the notification window for its Android app, allowing users to mark messages as read directly from notifications without opening the app. This feature is currently being rolled out to Android users, while desktop users have had similar functionality through keyboard shortcuts. The update is part of a phased rollout, meaning not all users will have access immediately. Additionally, Slack recently launched 25 new AI applications in its marketplace to enhance productivity across various professional tasks.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Slack down: Messaging app hit by major global outage

Slack is currently experiencing a major outage affecting users worldwide, with issues including error spikes that hinder the ability to open channels, send messages, and use integrated applications. The company has stated that backend database routing is contributing to these errors and is actively investigating the situation with its engineering team. While initially reported as a global outage affecting all users, it has been clarified that the impact is widespread but not universal. Users are facing challenges such as difficulties in starting the application, unsent messages, and problems with loading channels and threads. Slack has committed to providing updates every 30 minutes until the issues are resolved. As of the latest update, operations are reportedly returning to normal after significant disruptions.

AppWizard

March 28, 2025

Report: Discord is preparing to go public

Discord is reportedly planning to launch its initial public offering (IPO) as early as this year, according to a Bloomberg report. The company has partnered with Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase for guidance in this process. In 2021, Discord was involved in acquisition talks with Microsoft and aimed for a billion-dollar valuation during a fundraising round. In 2022, there was speculation about a potential direct listing instead of a traditional IPO. CEO Jason Citron indicated that Discord would "probably go public" at some point, reflecting confidence in the company's future.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Discord unveils brand-new overlay for PC, promises better game support and performance

Discord has released a significant update to its PC client and overlay, featuring a complete overhaul aimed at improving user experience. The overlay has been rebuilt for smoother interactions during gameplay, with a new rendering method that enhances performance and expands compatibility with a wider range of games. The desktop client now offers four themes (Light, Ash, Dark, and Onyx) and three UI density settings, along with resizable server channels and improved voice and video settings. A new widget-based overlay allows for customizable positioning of settings, and an action bar simplifies the management of voice and video controls. The update is being rolled out to PC users, and a restart of the app may be required to access the latest version.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Signal event: Why US and European officials rely on the messaging app

A recent incident involved The Atlantic's editor-in-chief in a Signal chat among senior officials from the Trump administration discussing military actions in Yemen. Signal was chosen for its robust security features, including end-to-end encryption that prevents interception by intermediaries. Signal operates as an independent non-profit, unlike WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta. Its popularity is growing in political circles, with recommendations from both the European Commission and Parliament for secure communications. The guidelines noted an increase in threats to telecommunications infrastructure and recommended Signal when corporate tools are unavailable. A recent leak of U.S. national defense plans was due to human error, not Signal's encryption flaws.

AppWizard

February 27, 2025

Slack Down: Workplace Messaging App Hit by Outage

Slack is experiencing connectivity issues today, with outages reported by users starting around 7 a.m. PT. Downdetector has noted a significant increase in complaints, indicating that approximately 60% of users are facing problems with the app, while 17% are encountering issues on the website. Slack's status page confirmed the issues at 7:27 a.m. PT, affecting functionalities such as messaging, logins, workflows, and integrations. Updates from Slack at 11:05 a.m. and 11:35 a.m. PT indicated ongoing investigations into the cause of the outage, but no cause has been disclosed yet.

AppWizard

February 26, 2025

Slack is down, and that means it’s time to start playing games on company time

Slack is currently experiencing significant disruptions, preventing many users from accessing the platform. While some users who were logged in initially may still have access, new users are unable to log in. Alternatives for communication during this downtime include Discord and IRC. Users can also engage in browser-based games or take advantage of free titles available on the Epic Games Store, such as Garden Story. Additionally, the ongoing Steam Next Fest offers various game demos for users to explore. Updates on Slack's status will be provided as the situation unfolds.

AppWizard

February 6, 2025

Top 35 Social Media Platforms (September 2024)

YouTube is the most popular social media platform with 3.9 billion monthly active users, followed by Facebook with 2.1 billion users. Telegram has experienced a 367% search growth with 30.4 million monthly Google searches. TikTok has seen a 733% search growth and has 83.1 million monthly Google searches. Xiaohongshu (RedNote) has a search growth of 99x+, with 450,000 monthly Google searches and reported a profit of million in 2023. Discord has a 188% search growth with 30.4 million monthly Google searches. WhatsApp has a 112% search growth and 151 million monthly Google searches. Reddit has a 140% search growth with 30.4 million monthly Google searches. Douyin, a Chinese video-sharing app, has a 733% search growth and 1 million monthly Google searches.

Winsage

February 3, 2025

Modern Discord hacked into Windows 95 and 98, slimmed down version keeps core functionality intact

A developer known as IProgramInCpp has backported Discord to Windows 95 and Windows 98 Second Edition, creating a version called Discord Messenger. This backport retains essential messaging functionalities such as direct messages, server interactions, image uploads, message editing, typing indicators, server member lists, and untrusted URL indicators. However, it lacks features like the friend list, dark mode, and voice channel capabilities, with voice call support being particularly challenging to integrate. The application runs on Windows 98 SE and Windows XP SP2, but may not appeal to users on modern systems. Caution is advised as using a custom Discord client may violate the platform's terms of service, especially since certain features are omitted to avoid spam detection.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Meta ‘removes LGBTQ+ Pride themes from Facebook Messenger app’

Meta has removed Pride and LGBTQ+ themes from Facebook Messenger, which included color schemes reflecting the pride flags of transgender and non-binary identities. These themes were initially introduced in 2021 and 2022 for Pride Month. The company's recent changes to hate speech policies now allow users to label queer individuals as “mentally ill,” leading to backlash and internal chaos among employees, some of whom have taken sick leave. Reports indicate that employees are seeking clarification on the policy changes, which diverge from established scientific consensus. A member of Meta's policy team stated the revisions aim to correct overly restrictive rules while reaffirming the company's core value of free expression, even if it means allowing offensive content.